Chapter 20
The journey from our town to London was a journey of about five hours.
Mr. Jaggers had sent me his address; it was, Little Britain,
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and he had written after it on his
card, “just out of Smithfield.
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We stopped in a gloomy street, at certain offices with an open door,
where was painted MR. JAGGERS.
“How much?” I asked the coachman.
The coachman answered, “A shilling – unless you wish to make it more.”
I naturally said I had no wish to make it more.
“Then it must be a shilling,” observed the coachman. I went into the front office with my little
bag in my hand and asked, Was Mr. Jaggers at home?
“He is not,” returned the clerk. “He is in Court at present. Am I addressing Mr. Pip?”
I signified that he was addressing Mr. Pip.
“Mr. Jaggers left word, would you wait in his room.”
Mr. Jaggers’s room was lighted by a skylight only, and was a most dismal place. There were
not so many papers about, as I should have expected to see; and there were some odd objects about,
that I should not have expected to see – such as an old rusty pistol, a sword, several strange-looking
boxes and packages.
I sat down in the chair placed over against Mr. Jaggers’s chair, and became fascinated by the
dismal atmosphere of the place. But I sat wondering and waiting in Mr. Jaggers’s close room, and
got up and went out.
At length, as I was looking out at the Little Britain, I saw Mr. Jaggers coming across the road
towards me.
My guardian then took me into his own room, and while he lunched, informed me what
arrangements he had made for me. I was to go to “Barnard’s Inn,
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” to young Mr. Pocket’s rooms,
where a bed had been sent in for my accommodation. “You will find your credit good, Mr. Pip,” said
my guardian, but I shall by this means be able to check your bills.”
I asked Mr. Jaggers if I could send for a coach? He said it was not worth while, I was so near
my destination; Wemmick
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should walk round with me.
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Little Britain – Литл-Бритен
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just out of Smithfield – не доезжая Смитфилда
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Barnard’s Inn – «Подворье Барнарда»
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Wemmick – Уэммик
Д. Остин, Ч. Диккенс, С. А. Матвеев. «Гордость и предубеждение / Pride and Prejudice. Great Expectations / Боль-
шие надежды»
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